Emirates has started using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by Shell Aviation at London Heathrow Airport. Over 3,000 metric tonnes of neat SAF, blended with conventional jet fuel, will be integrated into the airport’s fueling infrastructure until the end of summer 2024. This marks the first time Emirates will use SAF at London Heathrow, representing the largest volume of SAF the airline has purchased to date.
The SAF supplied by Shell Aviation will be accounted for, tracked, and traced by Emirates through robust reporting methodologies. In its pure form, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. This initiative is part of Emirates’ commitment to environmental responsibility and operational efficiency. Emirates is also participating in London Heathrow’s SAF Incentive Programme, which ensures SAF is affordable and accessible for airlines operating at the airport.
Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer at Emirates, expressed the airline’s enthusiasm: “Emirates is eager to take this next step in our SAF journey with Shell Aviation and London Heathrow supporting us with this fuel supply arrangement in one of our biggest operations outside of Dubai. The LHR Incentive Programme will support the SAF market’s increasing momentum, allowing airlines like Emirates to take advantage of its availability and make it more commercially viable.”
Emirates continues to explore opportunities to increase SAF use within its network. The airline plans to share emissions costs with corporate customers or freight forwarders and cooperate on long-term SAF projects with reputable partners. Emirates also supports SAF ventures in the UAE, aiming to supply SAF at its hub.
Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation, commented on the collaboration: “After our successful collaboration with Emirates to supply SAF to Dubai (DXB) last year, we are pleased to continue our support for their sustainability journey by enabling the airline to decarbonize flights out of the UK. This development also marks further progress in the growth of our global SAF supply network. Our goal is to continue to work with forward-thinking players in the aviation industry, like Emirates and London Heathrow, to make SAF available in more locations around the world.”
Launched in 2022, London Heathrow’s SAF Incentive Programme is the first of its kind, reducing the price gap between conventional jet fuel and SAF by approximately 50%. Ross Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Heathrow, stated, “We are thrilled to support Emirates with Heathrow’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scheme. SAF is crucial to decarbonizing long haul flights as it can cut the carbon on routes like London to Dubai without the need for new aircraft or infrastructure. Thanks to commitments from airlines like Emirates, we expect to support the use of up to 155,000 tonnes of SAF at Heathrow this year.”
Future Initiatives and Goals
Emirates continues to operate flights using SAF from Amsterdam, Paris, Lyon, and Oslo. Last year, the airline collaborated with Shell Aviation to supply SAF to Dubai Airport’s fueling systems for the first time. In May 2024, Emirates plans to work with local partners at Singapore Changi Airport to supply SAF through the airport’s fueling systems.
Earlier this year, Emirates became the first international carrier to join the Solent Cluster in the UK, an initiative focused on low carbon investments. This initiative aims to create a SAF plant capable of producing up to 200,000 tonnes per year if operational by 2032.
Emirates has been operating in the UK since 1987 and currently serves seven gateways with 131 weekly flights. This includes six times daily A380 flights to London Heathrow, with an additional five times weekly using the Boeing 777 aircraft until October 26, 2024. Other services include three times daily A380 flights to Gatwick, twice daily to Stansted, three times daily A380 flights to Manchester, twice daily to Birmingham (including a daily A380 service), and daily services to Newcastle and Glasgow.
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